"And as for you and Felicia—forget it," Sebastian said firmly, his voice sharp. "She doesn't like you and never will. She certainly won't marry you. Stop using that 'fiancé' title; it's presumptuous. If I hear it again, you'll regret it." He turned abruptly and strode into the venue.

Spotting Felicia already seated, he sat beside her. Felicia glanced up, then back toward the entrance. Arnold had entered but hadn't left. She relaxed slightly; for today, he was more than an annoyance—he was a vital lead. She couldn't afford to lose track of him.

The venture capital conference proceeded as scheduled. Entrepreneurs presented their ideas with passion, hoping to secure investments. The atmosphere crackled with energy. Felicia, however, kept her eyes fixed on Arnold, observing his reactions.

After a while, Arnold seemed to notice her gaze. His stern expression softened, a faint smile playing on his lips. "What's he thinking now?" Felicia mused, irritated. She quickly looked away, unwilling to encourage him.

To her surprise, the conference ended without Arnold making a move. He invested in nothing, engaged with no one. Frustrated, Felicia leaned toward Sebastian. "Which project stood out to you?" she whispered.

Sebastian tilted his head. "They all seemed solid."

"All of them?" she frowned.

"Yes," he replied. "Plenty of potential, but who knows which will succeed? Investing is always a gamble."

As the conference concluded, Sebastian chatted with acquaintances. Felicia, bored, wandered off, finding herself in a small garden. The flowers were in bloom, their fragrance calming. She strolled, admiring the scenery, when a voice from behind a hedge caught her attention.

"My company is small—only six of us, including me. We scrape by, cutting costs constantly. Each of us carries a workload of three...this thinning hairline proves our dedication..."

It sounded like a rehearsed pitch, but desperate. Curious, Felicia peered past the hedge. A young man with thick glasses clutched a crumpled script. He froze, visibly nervous. "Y-You..."

Felicia glanced at her watch. "It's 11:25 am," she said calmly. The conference ended at 11:30. Her meaning was clear.

The young man's eyes widened. "What?" Realizing the time, he panicked, scrambling to gather his things. "No one reminded me it was my turn!"

Most investors had left. Desperate, he pleaded with the few remaining. "Please, sir, just five minutes! It's innovative—you'll be impressed!" One investor barely glanced at him. "I've already committed eight million today."

He approached another. "Please, just five minutes! Here's my proposal—" But the investor's assistant brushed him aside. He tried again and again, bowing deeply, but met only with rejection and indifference. No one listened.